CONTACT:Lisa M. Marchi, Director of Development & CommunicationsBerkshire South Regional Community Center413.528.0397lmarchi@berkshiresouth.org

New Marlborough and Stockbridge Cultural Councils Support Berkshire South’s Ukulele Band

Great Barrington, MA – Berkshire South Regional Community Center is honored to receive an award of $100 from the New Marlborough and $250 from the Stockbridge cultural councils via the Massachusetts Cultural Council in support of the Center’s popular Berkshire Ukulele Band.

The Berkshire Ukulele Band, a weekly program offered at the Center each Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., has become a community favorite. New Marlborough and Stockbridge join the Alford-Egremont and Great Barrington cultural councils in support of the Band. “We are grateful for this recognition of the value of Berkshire South’s programming to our neighboring towns,” Executive Director Jenise Lucey commented. “We feel this generous endorsement by our local cultural councils underscores the Community Center’s benefit to those we serve County-wide.”

The Berkshire Ukulele Band’s instructor is musician Rob Sanzone, who teaches participants instrument technique, how to read chord charts, chord progressions and songs from many musical genres. The only prerequisite to joining the Band is having an interest in playing the ukulele. Beginners are encouraged to join – reading music is not required. Often called upon to perform during community events, in June 2014, the Berkshire Ukulele Band joined with the Community Center’s Berkshire Sings! chorus for the inaugural Cultural Concert fundraiser at Berkshire South. The sold-out event was a great success and is planned again for the spring of 2015.

The goal of the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) is to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. In coordination with Local Cultural Councils in communities across the state, MCC supports programs promoting excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences.

The mission of Berkshire South Regional Community Center is to build a sense of community and common purpose throughout the region, and to enhance the recreational, educational, cultural, health and social well-being of the residents of the Southern Berkshires. Berkshire South is a non-sectarian, non-profit organization open to all, regardless of ability to pay. For more information, please call (413) 528-2810 or go to www.berkshiresouth.org.